Inner component for timepiece parts

ABSTRACT

Utilisation of a single phase alloy with a face-centred cubic structure including at least copper and nickel, and including a total mass percentage of copper and nickel greater than or equal to 50%, for making an inner component for timepiece parts, this alloy including a mass proportion of copper greater than or equal to 50% and/or a mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to 15.0% of the total mass in which case this alloy includes a mass proportion of manganese less than or equal to 2.0%. Method for fabrication of an inner component for timepiece parts which is of determined shape and dimensions, in which method there is taken a raw material made of such an alloy and this raw material is machined to obtain an inner component for timepiece parts with the finished dimensions corresponding to these determined shape and dimensions.

This application claims priority from European Patent Application No.15169387.6 filed on May 27, 2015, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns the use of a single phase alloy with aface-centred cubic structure comprising at least copper and nickel, andincluding a total mass percentage of copper and nickel greater than orequal to 50%, for making an inner component for timepiece parts.

The invention also concerns a method for fabrication of an innercomponent for timepiece parts which is of determined shape anddimensions, wherein there is taken a sheet or strip or bar of rawmaterial, made of single phase alloy with a face-centred cubic structureincluding at least copper and including, a total mass percentage ofcopper and nickel greater than or equal to 50%.

The invention concerns the field of inner components for timepieceparts, particularly for watches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The fabrication of the external timepiece parts requires great care, asthese components are highly visible and affect the image of themanufacturer's brand and market position.

Although the external parts are necessarily made of stable, corrosionresistant materials which must ensure low nickel salting out becausethey are in contact with the user's skin, the inner components of theparts, which are confined inside the timepiece but visible through acrystal, permit the use of more varied materials.

There are therefore known inner components for parts, particularlyappliques, made of rhodium-plated brass. These components have a verysatisfactory appearance, provided they are very carefully protectedduring handling and assembly, due to the fragile nature of the coatingwhich is generally produced by an electroplating treatment thataccentuates any defect existing prior to the treatment.

FR Patent 1049188 in the name of Straumann describes parts for timepiecedevices made of hardenable alloy, with total nickel and manganesecontent of at least 50%, the remainder being formed by copper and theusual impurities. Several examples also mention a total copper andnickel content of at least 50%.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention concerns the utilisation of a single phasealloy with a face-centred cubic structure comprising at least copper andnickel, and including a total mass percentage of copper and nickelgreater than or equal to 50%, for making an inner component fortimepiece parts.

The invention also concerns a method for fabrication of an innercomponent for timepiece parts which is of determined shape anddimensions, according to claim 2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon readingthe following detailed description, with reference to the annexeddrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 show schematic, respectively top perspective, bottomperspective, top and longitudinal cross-sectional views of an innercomponent for timepiece parts, in the specific case of an applique;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a watch including such appliques.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An “inner component for timepiece parts” means here any component of thepart of a watch or of a timepiece, which is visible to the user, but notimmediately accessible, since it is protected by a crystal or protectivewall, back cover or similar.

More specifically, an inner component for timepiece parts may consist ofan applique, a hand, a symbol, a setting, or suchlike.

The invention concerns the utilisation of a single phase alloy with aface-centred cubic structure comprising at least copper and nickel, andincluding a total mass percentage of copper and nickel greater than orequal to 50%, for making such an inner component 1 for timepiece parts.

According to the invention, said alloy includes a mass proportion ofcopper greater than or equal to 50%, and/or a mass proportion of nickelgreater than or equal to 15.0% of the total mass, in which case saidalloy includes a mass proportion of manganese less than or equal to2.0%.

More specifically, when this alloy has a mass proportion of nickelgreater than or equal to 15.0%, it includes a mass proportion of atleast 8.0% of zinc and/or of at least 50% of nickel.

More specifically still, in order to make an inner component 1 fortimepiece parts, there is used an alloy which is either a cupronickelincluding between 15.0 and 30.0 mass percent of nickel, and includingfrom 0.0 to 2.0 mass percent of manganese and/or of iron and/or ofchromium and/or of zirconium and/or of silicon, or a nickel silver alloycomprising at least 8.0 mass percent of zinc.

More specifically, the alloy is either a cupronickel including between20.0 and 30.0 mass percent of nickel, and including from 0.0 to 2.0 masspercent of manganese and/or of iron and/or of chromium and/or ofzirconium and/or of silicon, or a nickel silver alloy comprising atleast 8.0 mass percent of zinc.

To overcome any known surface state problems for components that have anelectroplating treatment, the invention proposes to dispense with anyelectroplating treatment, and to make an inner component for timepieceparts that is immediately usable in its post-machining state.

The word “machining” covers here the usual methods of production:stamping, cutting, removal of cuttings, precision grinding, lapping,polishing, diamond polishing, and suchlike.

These components are therefore made from a material which is capable ofbeing machined, stamped, cut, diamond polished, is ductile (inparticular for forging the legs in the case of machining a strip), has auniform colour and especially is resistant to tarnishing and very stableover time.

The uniform colour desired is usually grey, or gold: yellow gold, whitegold or rose gold.

The invention also concerns a method for fabrication of such an innercomponent 1 for timepiece parts which is of determined shape anddimensions.

According to the invention, there is taken a sheet or strip or bar ofraw material made from a single phase alloy with a face-centred cubicstructure including a total mass percentage of copper and nickel greaterthan or equal to 50%, and the raw material is machined to obtain aninner component 1 for timepiece parts with finished dimensions thatcorrespond to said determined shape and dimensions.

This machining is effected by stamping and/or cutting and/or pressingand/or removal of cuttings, and inner component 1 for timepiece parts isdiamond polished to the finished dimensions, and component 1 is usedfresh from diamond polishing and without any electroplating treatment orcoating.

According to the invention, this alloy is selected to include at leastcopper, and to include a mass proportion of copper greater than or equalto 50%, and/or a mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to15.0% in which case the alloy preferably includes a mass proportion ofmanganese less than or equal to 2.0%.

Various suitable alloy compositions meeting this definition are set outbelow.

More specifically, the alloy is selected to be either a cupronickelincluding between 15.0 and 30.0 mass percent of nickel, and includingfrom 0.0 to 2.0 mass percent of manganese and/or of iron and/or ofchromium and/or of zirconium and/or of silicon, or a nickel silver alloycomprising at least 8.0 mass percent of zinc.

More specifically still, the alloy is selected to be either acupronickel including between 20.0 and 30.0 mass percent of nickel, andincluding from 0.0 to 2.0 mass percent of manganese and/or of ironand/or of chromium and/or of zirconium and/or of silicon, or a nickelsilver alloy comprising at least 8.0 mass percent of zinc.

More specifically, to implement this method, there is selected an alloywith a mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to 15% of thetotal mass.

In a particular advantageous embodiment, this alloy includes at leastone element limiting tarnishing, chosen from nickel, manganese,aluminium, tin, chromium, zirconium or suchlike.

More specifically, the mass proportion of nickel is greater than orequal to 19.0% of the total mass.

In an alternative, the mass proportion of copper in this alloy isgreater than or equal to 50.0% of the total mass.

In another alternative, the mass proportion of nickel in this alloy isgreater than or equal to 50.0% of the total mass.

More specifically, in a first embodiment, the alloy includes at least 50mass percent of copper, and the alloy is chosen to include nickel in amass proportion greater than or equal to 15.0% of the total mass.

More specifically, the selected alloy is thus a cupronickel, includingbetween 19.0 and 30.0 mass percent of nickel, and including from 0.0 to2.0 mass percent of manganese and/or of iron and/or of chromium and/orof zirconium and/or of silicon, and a mass proportion of copper bringingthe total composition to 100%.

In a first cupronickel variant, the alloy includes between 19.0 and 23.0mass percent of nickel, and includes from 0.0 to 1.0 mass percent ofzinc and/or of manganese and/or of iron, and a mass proportion of copperbringing the total composition to 100%.

In a second cupronickel variant, of the CuNi25 type, the alloy includesbetween 24.0 and 26.0 mass percent of nickel, and includes from 0.0 to0.5 mass percent of zinc and/or of manganese and/or of iron, and a massproportion of copper bringing the total composition to 100%.

In a third cupronickel variant, of the CuNi30 type, the alloy includesbetween 29.0 and 32.0 mass percent of nickel, and includes from 0.0 to0.5 mass percent of zinc and/or of manganese and/or of iron, and a massproportion of copper bringing the total composition to 100%.

In one of these cupronickel variants, the alloy more specificallyincludes between 0.5 and 5.0 mass percent of tin to improve itsresistance to tarnishing.

In a second embodiment, the alloy is a nickel silver with a massproportion of zinc greater than or equal to 8.0% of the total mass. Morespecifically, the alloy has a mass proportion of nickel greater than orequal to 20% of the total mass, and a mass proportion of copper bringingthe total composition to 100%. More specifically, the mass proportion ofcopper in this alloy is greater than or equal to 50.0% of the totalmass.

In a first nickel silver variant, the alloy includes a mass proportionof zinc of at least 11% of the total mass.

In a second nickel silver variant, the alloy includes a mass proportionof nickel of at least 25.0% of the total mass.

In a third nickel silver variant, the alloy includes both a massproportion of zinc of at least 11% of the total mass and a massproportion of nickel of at least 25.0% of the total mass.

In a fourth nickel silver variant, the alloy is an ARCAP including amass proportion of copper of at least 53.0% of the total mass, a massproportion of nickel of at least 25.0% of the total mass, and a massproportion of zinc comprised between 8.0 and 20.0% of the total mass.

In a fifth nickel silver variant, the alloy is an ARCAP of the AP1D typeincluding a mass proportion of copper comprised between 60.0% and 61.0%of the total mass, a mass proportion of nickel comprised between 24.0%and 26.0% of the total mass, and a mass proportion of zinc comprisedbetween 11.0% and 12.0% of the total mass.

In a sixth nickel silver variant, the alloy is an ARCAP of the AP1D typeincluding a mass proportion of copper comprised between 60.0% and 61.0%of the total mass, a mass proportion of nickel comprised between 24.0%and 26.0% of the total mass, and a mass proportion of zinc comprisedbetween 11.0% and 12.0% of the total mass, and from 0 to 2.5% of anotherelement. More specifically, this other element is manganese.

In a third embodiment, this alloy is of the CuNiMn type, i.e. acopper-nickel-manganese alloy, with a mass proportion of manganesecomprised between 19.0 and 31.0% of the total mass.

More specifically, this copper-nickel-manganese alloy includes a massproportion of nickel comprised between 19.0 and 31.0% of the total mass.

In a fourth embodiment, this alloy is of the Monel® type.

In a first Monel® variant, the alloy includes a mass proportion ofnickel greater than or equal to 63.0% of the total mass, a proportion ofmanganese less than or equal to 2.0% of the total mass, a proportion ofiron less than or equal to 2.5% of the total mass, a proportion ofsilicon less than or equal to 0.5% of the total mass, a proportion ofcarbon less than or equal to 0.3% of the total mass, a proportion ofsulphur less than or equal to 0.02% of the total mass, a mass proportionof copper comprised between 28.0 and 34.0% of the total mass and suchthat the total composition is equal to 100%.

In a second Monel® variant, the alloy includes a mass proportion ofnickel greater than or equal to 63.0% of the total mass, a proportion ofmanganese less than or equal to 1.5% of the total mass, a proportion ofiron less than or equal to 2.0% of the total mass, a proportion ofsilicon less than or equal to 0.5% of the total mass, a proportion ofcarbon less than or equal to 0.25% of the total mass, a proportion ofsulphur less than or equal to 0.01% of the total mass, a mass proportionof aluminium comprised between 2.3 and 3.15% of the total mass, a massproportion of titanium comprised between 0.35 and 0.75% of the totalmass, a mass proportion of copper comprised between 27.0 and 33.0% ofthe total mass and such that the total composition is equal to 100%.

All of the alloys chosen above make it possible to obtain a uniform greycolour compatible with numerous horological uses.

It is also possible to use gold and 5N gold coloured alloys. For yellowgold, suitable alloys are Nordic gold, Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1, and the alloyCu92Al6Ni2, or other cupro-aluminium type alloys. These alloys are alsosingle-phase copper-based alloys, and the resistance to tarnishing andyellow colour are obtained by the addition of aluminium.

The invention concerns a component 1 thereby formed for an part andready to use after diamond polishing.

The invention also concerns a timepiece, particularly a watch 10,including at least one such component 1 for an part.

1. An utilisation of a single phase alloy with a face-centred cubicstructure comprising at least copper and nickel, and including a totalmass percentage of copper and nickel greater than or equal to 50%, formaking an inner component for timepiece parts, wherein said alloyincludes a mass proportion of copper greater than or equal to 50% and/ora mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to 15.0% of the totalmass in which case said alloy includes a mass proportion of manganeseless than or equal to 2.0%.
 2. The utilisation of a single phase alloyaccording to claim 1, wherein said alloy has a mass proportion of nickelgreater than or equal to 15.0%, and a mass proportion of at least 8.0%of zinc and/or of at least 50% of nickel.
 3. The utilisation of a singlephase alloy according to claim 1, wherein said alloy is either acupronickel including between 20.0 and 30.0 mass percent of nickel, andincluding from 0.0 to 2.0 mass percent of manganese and/or of ironand/or of chromium and/or of zirconium and/or of silicon, or a nickelsilver alloy comprising at least 8.0 mass percent of zinc.
 4. A methodfor fabrication of an inner component for timepiece parts which is ofdetermined shape and dimensions, wherein there is taken a sheet or stripor bar of raw material, made of single phase alloy with a face-centredcubic structure including at least copper and including a total masspercentage of copper and nickel greater than or equal to 50%, whereinsaid raw material is machined to obtain an inner component for timepieceparts with finished dimensions that correspond to said determined shapeand dimensions, wherein said machining is effected by stamping and/orcutting and/or pressing and/or removal of cuttings, and wherein saidinner component for timepiece parts is diamond polished to the finisheddimensions, and wherein said component is used fresh from diamondpolishing and without any electroplating or coating, and wherein saidalloy is chosen to include a mass proportion of copper greater than orequal to 50% and/or a mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to15.0% of the total mass, in which case said alloy includes a massproportion of manganese less than or equal to 2.0%.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein said alloy is selected with a massproportion of nickel greater than or equal to 15.0% of the total mass,and in that said alloy includes a mass proportion of either at least8.0% of zinc or of at least 50% of nickel.
 6. The method according toclaim 4, wherein said alloy is selected with a mass proportion of nickelgreater than or equal to 15.0% of the total mass, said alloy eitherbeing a cupronickel including between 20.0 and 30.0 mass percent ofnickel and including from 0.0 to 2.0 mass percent of manganese and/or ofiron and/or of chromium and/or of zirconium and/or of silicon, or anickel silver alloy comprising at least 8.0 mass percent of zinc.
 7. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein said alloy is selected to be aMonel®, with a mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to 63.0%of the total mass, a proportion of manganese less than or equal to 2.0%of the total mass, a proportion of iron less than or equal to 2.5% ofthe total mass, a proportion of silicon less than or equal to 0.5% ofthe total mass, a proportion of carbon less than or equal to 0.3% of thetotal mass, a proportion of sulphur less than or equal to 0.02% of thetotal mass, a mass proportion of copper comprised between 28.0 and 34.0%of the total mass and such that the total composition is equal to 100%.8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said alloy is selected to bea Monel®, with a mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to63.0% of the total mass, a proportion of manganese less than or equal to1.5% of the total mass, a proportion of iron less than or equal to 2.0%of the total mass, a proportion of silicon less than or equal to 0.5% ofthe total mass, a proportion of carbon less than or equal to 0.25% ofthe total mass, a proportion of sulphur less than or equal to 0.01% ofthe total mass, a mass proportion of aluminium comprised between 2.3 and3.15% of the total mass, a mass proportion of titanium comprised between0.35 and 0.75% of the total mass, a mass proportion of copper comprisedbetween 27.0 and 33.0% of the total mass and such that the totalcomposition is equal to 100%.
 9. The method according to claim 4,wherein said alloy is selected to include at least 50 mass percent ofcopper, and in that said alloy is chosen to include nickel in a massproportion greater than or equal to 15.0% of the total mass.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein said alloy is selected to be acupronickel, including between 19.0 and 30.0 mass percent of nickel, andincluding from 0.0 to 2.0 mass percent of manganese and/or of ironand/or of chromium and/or of zirconium and/or of silicon, and a massproportion of copper bringing the total composition to 100%.
 11. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein said alloy is selected to be acupronickel, including between 19.0 and 23.0 mass percent of nickel, andincluding from 0.0 to 2.0 mass percent of zinc and/or of manganeseand/or of iron, and a mass proportion of copper bringing the totalcomposition to 100%.
 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein saidalloy is selected to be a cupronickel, including between 24.0 and 26.0mass percent of nickel, and including from 0.0 to 0.5 mass percent ofzinc and/or of manganese and/or of iron, and a mass proportion of copperbringing the total composition to 100%.
 13. The method according toclaim 9, wherein said alloy is selected to be a cupronickel, includingbetween 29.0 and 32.0 mass percent of nickel, and including from 0.0 to0.5 mass percent of zinc and/or of manganese and/or of iron, and a massproportion of copper bringing the total composition to 100%.
 14. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein said alloy includes between 0.5 and5.0 mass percent of tin to improve the resistance thereof to tarnishing.15. The method according to claim 4, wherein said alloy is selected toinclude at least 50 mass percent of copper, and in that said alloy ischosen to be of the cupro-aluminium or Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1 or Cu92Al6Ni2 type.16. The method according to claim 5, wherein said alloy is selected toinclude at least 8 mass percent of zinc.
 17. The method according toclaim 16, wherein said alloy is selected to be a nickel silver, with amass proportion of zinc greater than or equal to 8% of the total mass,with a mass proportion of nickel greater than or equal to 20% of thetotal mass, and a mass proportion of copper bringing the totalcomposition to 100%.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein themass proportion of copper in said alloy is greater than or equal to50.0% of the total mass.
 19. The method according to claim 17, whereinsaid nickel silver has a mass proportion of zinc of at least 11% of thetotal mass.
 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein said alloy isselected to be a nickel silver with a mass proportion of nickel of atleast 25% of the total mass.
 21. The method according to claim 16,wherein said alloy is selected to be a nickel silver which is an ARCAPincluding a mass proportion of copper of at least 53.0% of the totalmass, a mass proportion of nickel of at least 25.0% of the total mass,and a mass proportion of zinc comprised between 8.0 and 20.0% of thetotal mass.
 22. The method according to claim 16, wherein said alloy isselected to be a nickel silver which is an ARCAP of the AP1D typeincluding a mass proportion of copper comprised between 60.0% and 61.0%of the total mass, a mass proportion of nickel comprised between 24.0%and 26.0% of the total mass, and a mass proportion of zinc comprisedbetween 11.0 and 12.0% of the total mass.
 23. The method according toclaim 4, wherein said alloy includes at least one element limitingtarnishing, chosen from nickel, manganese, aluminium, tin, chromium andzirconium.
 24. The method according to claim 4, wherein said innercomponent for an part made by said method is incorporated inside a watchor a timepiece, in an area having no contact with the user.